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Strike duo in Bruce's thoughts

Steve Bruce has assured Connor Wickham and Ji Dong-won their time will come and has urged the strikers to be ready for action.

Last Updated: 03/10/11 5:27pm

Ji: Remains a key part of Bruce's plans for the season along with fellow summer signing Wickham

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has assured Connor Wickham and Ji Dong-won their time will come and has urged the strikers to be ready for action.

Bruce paired loan signing Nicklas Bendtner with Benin international Stephane Sessegnon in attack once again against West Brom on Saturday and saw the Denmark international score his first goal for the club and then set up the Ahmed Elmohamady equaliser which secured a 2-2 draw.

However, he also invested a total of more than £10million in Wickham, who missed out at the weekend with a groin strain, and Ji, a second-half substitute, and is confident they too will have significant roles to play this season.

Bruce said: "We keep saying this and we know we haven't got time, but we have made 10 or 11 changes [to the squad over the summer], so it's important for all 10, 11 [to have time to gel].

"Sessegnon and Bendtner for a start - they have only been with each other for two or three weeks and they looked very, very good on Saturday.

Bendtner praise

"But certainly, Connor and Ji are in my thoughts. Their time might be just around the corner too, so let's hope when they get their chance, they can give everybody a lift too."

It will be hard to dislodge Bendtner at present, though, with Bruce admitting he was hugely impressed with the performance of the on-loan Arsenal man against West Brom.

Bruce said: "Nick was our best player by a million miles. He has settled in very, very quickly and very, very well and been a big plus point.

"He was terrific against Norwich and if we had got better service to him quicker, I'm sure we would have been better as a team."